Lauren

Lauren – Uganda/GLI

LEARN ABOUT CAM AMBASSADOR LAUREN BRADY

What brought you to CU Denver, specifically the College of Arts & Media?

CU Denver ended up being the only college I applied to in Colorado because of its diverse programs. I chose to pursue music with the College of Arts and Media on a whim at orientation. While that’s generally not the recommended thing to do – following my gut worked out and here I am 3 years later getting ready to graduate.

Why did you want to become a part of the CAM Ambassadors group? What do you think it will do for you and the school?

Giving back to my local and global community will always be a priority for me – Being a CAM Ambassador allows me to do both. I want to help other communities and hopefully create more opportunities for CAM students to experience the world. I think this experience will broaden my perspective and change the way I observe the world around me. I hope I can bring back information to my peers and inspire them to get out in the world and do cool stuff!

What is your favorite part of being in the CAM program?

My favorite part of being in the CAM program has actually been the fact that I have been able to grow so much both creatively, academically, and professionally. I have found that in CAM, you can’t really blend into a class unseen and you can’t be idle.

What is your favorite location to go to in Denver?

I think anywhere I can get a wide view of the city at night in Denver would have to be a favorite spot. City lights are mesmerizing.

What concentration do you find yourself leaning towards the most? Why? When did you get started?

I chose Recording Arts for the technological pieces. I want to go into the video game industry so I think about sound and music very differently than someone who composes solely for a band or for a performance (I have mad respect for musicians who lay their heart out – y’all are rad).

What helps you get inspired?

My biggest sources of inspiration generally stems from things I am experiencing myself or watching others experience. Also those weird, surreal moments we all have. Like when you’re walking down the street and realize everyone you pass has a life of their own that is completely different than yours. Of course, rad video games and comic books get my wheels turning too!

Do you have any rituals to help get yourself motivated when you work?

I listen to intense video game sound tracks! I mean you can’t not get hyped when you have battle music fueling your every movement! Add an XL hot, sweet chai and I am ready to conquer Skyrim or just filing…

Who is your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration will always be my Dad. After he passed away, his presence in my mind and soul became incredibly powerful. The departed can remain your greatest teachers – Also, my Dad was just the coolest guy ever.

Feels like there’s been ongoing occurrences of weirdness for my music. I guess the over all weirdest thing would have been staying on a high ropes course longer than necessary, suspended 40 ft in the air, because I thought of lyrics for a song called “Heights”. I had a melody I liked brewing so I lolli-gagged mid-air.

Do you think anything can be art? Explain.

Just depends on your perspective. Code could be art to programmers and a dead landscape could be art to a photographer. The wonderful thing about art is that its not constrained. You can go to an art museum and see broken pottery on the ground – and everyone looking at it could be interpreting it differently.

Where is the best place to see music, in your opinion?

Weird, small, and run-down venues. Huge venues like Red Rocks are fun but I think trotting around a weird venue and being 2ft away from an artist is just neat. Everything feels more intimate and I always leave small shows feeling regenerated rather than drained.

What is your favorite movie/film that you’ve ever seen?

Def Leopard and Journey at Red Rocks – I don’t think I need to explain.

If you had to create a new crayon, what color and name would it be and why?

Reckless – It would look like a grey crayon but actually have a bunch of different colors inside so you’d never know what you’d get. Probably a nightmare for some users, but an adventure for others!